Swat Team Rescues Shaq In Mock Orlando Hijacking

NAMES & FACES

The annual SWAT Round-up at the Orange County Sheriff's gun range began Monday with the kidnapping of an Orlando celebrity known for his own brand of swat.

Shaquille O'Neal, seen around these parts swatting away opponents' basketball shots, was a passenger on a bus that was hijacked during a mock crisis.

The round-up, a competition of 52 Special Weapons and Tactics teams from around the world, always begins with a demonstration. After would-be terrorists pretended to kill one bus passenger and toss her body out, SWAT members made their rescue. Only after Shaq got out of the bus did spectators realize the Orlando Magic basketball star was aboard, said Orlando Police Chief Tom Hurlburt.

O'Neal volunteered for the duty of hijacked star, said Hurlburt, whose department is one of several local departments sponsoring this week's competition.